Key Accomplishments

What are some of our key accomplishments?

The River Project organized the Coalition for a State Park at Taylor Yard and led the successful fight to establish the first state park on the Los Angeles River - Rio de Los Angeles State Park. We continue to advocate for the completion of the community's vision, including the acquisition of parcel G2- the parcel standing between the park and the river bank.

We produced a comprehensive watershed management plan for the Tujunga Wash subwatershed, and are actively engaged in partnership with the City of Los Angeles and the Department of Water & Power in it's implementation. To date, many of the projects identified as part of the plan have been undertaken and completed, including the Woodman Avenue Median Retrofit. In June of 2009, our Tujunga/Pacoima Watershed Plan was honored with the "Innovation in Green Community Planning" award from the American Planning Association.

We are active in the development of water and land use policy at the local and statewide level, advocating for a comprehensive approach to watershed management in Los Angeles.

Our educational program has been named in the state board of education's California Guide to Environmental Literacy as one of the best environmental education projects in the state. The Paddle the LA River program grew out of our educational curriculum development, and we continue to partner with LA Conservation Corps each year, providing educational field trips to underserved children and youth each boating season.

In March of 2003, The River Project director, Melanie Winter was honored by Sunset Magazine as the first recipient of their annual environmental hero awards “Champions of the West."